Aeternum Vindicta

Act I, Chapter III

ACT I, CHAPTER III

"Wake up."

Was he dreaming again?

"Wake up."

This time, the words are clearer, more affirmative. He's not dreaming.

For a moment, his heartbeat quickens as he remembers Hestia, waking him at midnight. The events that followed. The grief that followed.

His eyes open, and are met by Zoe's solemn gaze.

"We need to go, now." Zoe's words leave no choice for argument, and she drags him up before ushering him to be quiet.

He blinks, trying to gain his bearings. Judging by the position of the sun, it was late in the afternoon. He'd definitely had been really tired.

When he opens his mouth to ask, she places a finger on his lips, gesturing him to crouch under a thicket of undergrowth before talking.

"There are few monsters of Ancient Greece in these sacred lands," Zoe whispers, cautiously surveying their camp perimeter, before musing to herself: "I wonder which god or goddess has quarrels with us."

He's compelled to mention Aphrodite's death wish on him, but doesn't have the time nor willpower to before she ushers him to move again.

"Stay low, and move with caution," she instructed, and he briefly recalled her description of his 'crashing' footsteps in the forest when they went hunting the day before.

Duly noted.

As they shuffle along the undergrowth, she abruptly grabs his arm — forcing them to stop. The woods are so quiet that the sound of their respective heartbeats can be heard hammering softly to any observant predator. Impatient, he's about to start shuffling forward again, when he stops.

Now he understands why Zoe was so agitated.

Ahead of them, the Minotaur carefully sniffs through the bushes, stopping abruptly to pick up another scent.

The scent of a demigod.

Both of them, too scared to react, opt to stay as still as possible.

A mistake.

The Minotaur — with its terrifying amalgamation of a bull's head and a man's body — roars into the air as it catches a definite whiff of its prey.

The hunt had begun.

Perseus knows he needs to move. But he can't bring himself to, not when he's in the presence of one of the most legendary, feared monsters of Greece.

Yet Theseus had succeeded. Brother by divine blood or not, he had to follow in the footsteps of the greats.

Luckily, Zoe's grip on his arm tightens painfully, bringing his senses back into action. Move. Yes, he needs to move. But could they outrun the Minotaur, much less fight it?

Unfortunately, they're not given that freedom of forethought when the monster's gaze locks onto them.

Zoe is barely given the time to mouth 'run' before hell breaks loose.

The Minotaur storms towards the two, and the two split. However, it's evident Perseus has the scent of a demigod, so the Minotaur reels to the right.

Fight or Flee? Those primal instincts, accentuated from his years of training, thrum restlessly through each limb. The pumping adrenaline, coupled with the heavy, malodorous breath of the Minotaur not far back don't help either.